He only needed half the starts to prove himself among the nation’s elite.

Junior Eamon McAdam has come into his own this season and is one of 26 goalies nominated for the Mike Richter Award, honoring the nation’s best player at the position.

McAdam and Matt Skoff have each started 16 games, posting 11-4-1 and 8-5-3 records, respectively. The former’s .928 save percentage and 3.23 goals-against average are significantly better and lead the Big Ten, while he also leads the nation’s goaltenders with three assists.

Mike Richter, the award’s namesake, played college hockey at Wisconsin before earning a bid to the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame career with the New York Rangers.

Last year’s winner, North Dakota’s Zane McIntyre, is currently with the Boston Bruins organization. Other nominees this year include three 2015 finalists, ten 2015 nominees, and one 2014 nominee. Notable nominees include Alex Lyon of Yale (who leads the nation in most major statistics) and the Big Ten’s Steve Racine and Eric Schierhorn.

With the season he’s having, McAdam might have to put some serious consideration towards a professional career. He was drafted in the third round by the New York Islanders in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft and the way this season’s gone, he sure looks like a pro.